GEOGRAPHY AND PEOPLESamoa consists of the two large islands of Upolu and Savai'i and seven small islets located about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand in the Polynesian region of the South Pacific. The main island of Upolu is home to nearly three-quarters of Samoa's population and its capital city of Apia. The climate is tropical, with a rainy season from November to April.

The Fa'a Samoa, or traditional Samoan way, remains a strong force in Samoan life and politics. Despite centuries of European influence, Samoa maintains its historical customs, social systems, and language, which is believed to be the oldest form of Polynesian speech still in existence. Only the Maoris of New Zealand outnumber the Samoans among Polynesian groups.

HISTORYMigrants from Southeast Asia arrived in the Samoan islands more than 2,000 years ago and from there settled the rest of Polynesia further to the east. Contact with Europeans began in the early 1700s but did not intensify until the arrival of English missionaries and traders in the 1830s. At the turn of the 20th century, the Samoan islands were split into two sections. The eastern islands became territories of the United States in 1904 and today are known as American Samoa. The western islands became known as Western Samoa (now the Independent State of Samoa), passing from German control to New Zealand in 1914. New Zealand administered Western Samoa under the auspices of the League of Nations and then as a UN trusteeship until independence in 1962. Western Samoa was the first Pacific Island country to gain its independence.

In July 1997 the Constitution was amended to change the country's name from Western Samoa to Samoa (officially the "Independent State of Samoa"). Western Samoa had been known simply as Samoa in the United Nations since joining the organization in 1976. The neighboring U.S. territory of American Samoa protested the move, feeling that the change diminished its own Samoan identity. American Samoans still use the terms Western Samoa and Western Samoans.

GOVERNMENTThe 1960 Constitution, which formally came into force with independence, is based on the British Westminster parliamentary system, modified to take account of Samoan customs. Malietoa Tanumafili held the post of head of state for 45 years until his death in May 2007. His successor, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, was selected by the Fono for a 5-year term.

The unicameral legislature (Fono) contains 49 members serving 5-year terms. Forty-seven are elected from territorial districts by ethnic Samoans districts; the other two are chosen by non-Samoans on separate electoral rolls. Universal suffrage was extended in 1990, but only chiefs (matai) may stand for election to the Samoan seats. The voting age is 21 years and over. There are more than 30,000 matais in the country, about 8% of whom are women. The prime minister is chosen by a majority in the Fono and is appointed by the head of state to form a government. The 12 cabinet ministers are appointed by the head of state on the advice of the prime minister, and subject to the continuing confidence of the Fono.

The judicial system is based on English common law and local customs. The Supreme Court is the court of highest jurisdiction. Its chief justice is appointed by the head of state upon the recommendation of the prime minister.

Samoa maintains its diplomatic representation in the United States at 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400J, New York, NY 10017; tel: 212-599-6196; email: samoa@un.int

POLITICAL CONDITIONSThe Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) has held majority in the Fono for the past six consecutive 5-year terms. HRPP leader Tofilau Eti Alesana served as prime minister for nearly all of the period between 1982 and 1998, when he resigned due to health problems. Tofilau Eti Alesana was replaced by his deputy Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

Parliamentary elections are held every 5 years, and the last was held in March 2006. The Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), led by Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, won 35 of the 49 seats. After the elections, the Samoa Democratic United Party (SDUP) was the opposition party but since then has suffered defections and divisions that have reduced it below the eight members required by parliamentary orders to constitute an official parliamentary party. Its remaining adherents have thus officially become independents, and as of March 2008 there was no recognized opposition party. The Supreme Court ordered by-elections, due to bribery and death of a member of parliament, that saw HRPP gain two extra seats to 37 of the 49 seats. In March 2008, two HRPP members left the party in a dispute over legislation proposed by the Prime Minister to change the "road code" from driving on the right (American) side to driving on the left (British) side, which will come into effect September 2009. These resignations--the first in recent years--left the HRPP with 35 seats. In July 2008, two new political parties were formed: Tautua Samoa Party (TSP), consisting of Independents and the two individuals who had defected from HRPP (however, not recognized in parliament because standing orders state they must have registered before the general election); and The People's Party (TPP), formed from a group protesting the government's legislation to switch the driving side of the road.

ECONOMYThe Samoan economy is dependent on agricultural exports, tourism, and capital flows from abroad. The effects of three natural disasters in the early 1990s were overcome by the middle of the decade, but economic growth cooled again with the regional economic downturn. Long-run development depends upon upgrading the tourist infrastructure, attracting foreign investment, and further diversification of the economy.

Two major cyclones hit Samoa at the beginning of the 1990s. Cyclone Ofa left an estimated 10,000 islanders homeless in February 1990; Cyclone Val caused 13 deaths and hundreds of millions of dollars in damage in December 1991. As a result, GDP declined by nearly 50% from 1989 to 1991.

Further economic problems occurred in 1994 with an outbreak of taro leaf blight and the near collapse of the national airline Polynesian Airlines. Taro, a root crop, traditionally was Samoa's largest export, generating more than half of all export revenue in 1993. But a fungal blight decimated the plants, and in each year since 1994 taro exports have accounted for less than 1% of export revenue.

The government responded to these shocks with a major program of road building and post-cyclone infrastructure repair. Economic reforms were stepped up, including the liberalization of exchange controls. GDP growth rebounded to over 6% in both 1995 and 1996 before slowing again at the end of the decade.

The primary sector (agriculture, forestry, and fishing) employs less than 2% of the labor force and produces 11.6% of GDP. Important products include coconuts and fish.

The service sector accounts for about three-quarters of GDP and employs approximately 50% of the labor force. Tourism is the largest-single activity, more than doubling in visitor numbers and revenue over the last decade. More than 122,000 visitors arrived in Samoa in 2007, contributing over $116.5 million to the local economy. About 40% of the tourist numbers came from New Zealand, 21% from American Samoa, and 7% from the United States. Visitors from other Pacific Islands doubled in 2007, mainly for the Samoan-hosted South Pacific Games in September.

Industry accounts for about 13% of GDP while employing less than 6% of the work force. The largest industrial venture is Yazaki Samoa, a Japanese-owned company processing automotive components for export to Australia under a concessional market-access arrangement. The Yazaki plant employs more than 2,000 workers and makes up over 20% of the manufacturing sector's total output. New Zealand is Samoa's principal trading partner, typically providing between 35% and 40% of imports and purchasing 45%-50% of exports. The increasing number of Asian-owned businesses in Samoa has led the increasing trade with Hong Kong and Japan. Australia, the U.S., including American Samoa, and Fiji also are important trading partners. Samoa's principal exports are coconut products, nonu fruit, and fish. Its main imports are food and beverages, industrial supplies, and fuels.

The collapse of taro exports in 1994 has had the unintended effect of modestly diversifying Samoa's export products and markets. Prior to the taro leaf blight, Samoa's exports consisted of taro ($1.1 million), coconut cream ($540,000), and "other" ($350,000). Ninety percent of exports went to the Pacific region, and only 1% went to Europe. Forced to look for alternatives to taro, Samoa's exporters have dramatically increased the production of copra, coconut oil, and fish. These three products, which combined to produce export revenue of less than $100,000 in 1993, now account for over $6.7 million. There also has been a relative shift from Pacific markets to European ones, which now receive nearly 15% of Samoa's exports. Samoa's exports are still concentrated in fish ($5.8 million), nonu fruit products ($3.27 million), and coconut products ($0.9 million worth of copra, copra meal, coconut oil, and coconut cream), but are at least somewhat more diverse than before.

In April 1998, Samoa applied for World Trade Organization membership. The accession process is still in place as negotiations at a bilateral level to resolve opening market access. Samoa's bid for membership moved forward with the successful conclusion of bilateral trade negotiations with New Zealand.

Samoa annually receives important financial assistance from abroad. The more than 100,000 Samoans who live overseas provide two sources of revenue. Their direct remittances have amounted to $128.2 million per year recently (about 24% of GDP), and they account for more than half of all tourist visits. In addition to the expatriate community, Samoa also receives more than $28 million annually in official bilateral development assistance from sources led by China, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. These three sources of revenue--tourism, private transfers, and official transfers--allow Samoa to cover its persistently large trade deficit.

In March 2006, the United Nations reviewed Samoa's status as a Least Developed Country and recommended graduation into Developing Country status. Samoa has sought a review of the decision on grounds of economic and environment vulnerability, although graduation may improve Samoa's international ratings for investment risk.

FOREIGN RELATIONS AND U.S.-SAMOAN RELATIONSThe Samoan Government is generally conservative and pro-Western, with a strong interest in regional political and economic issues. At independence in 1962, Samoa signed a Treaty of Friendship with New Zealand. This treaty confirms the special relationship between the two countries and provides a framework for their interaction. Under the terms of the treaty, Samoa can request that New Zealand act as a channel of communication to governments and international organizations outside the immediate area of the Pacific islands. Samoa also can request defense assistance, which New Zealand is required to consider (Samoa does not maintain a formal military). Overall Samoa has strong links with New Zealand, where many Samoans now live and many others were educated.

The Samoan Government was an outspoken critic of the French decision to resume nuclear weapons testing in the South Pacific in 1995. Large-scale street demonstrations were held in Apia against the French tests, which concluded in 1996. The Samoan Government also banned visits to Samoa by French warships and aircraft for several years. This ban has now been lifted, and a French warship visited Apia in July 2006.

The Government of Samoa has a strong relationship with the Government of the People's Republic of China (P.R.C.). The P.R.C. has provided substantial assistance to Samoa, including an economic grant agreement for new development projects valued at $2.6 million concluded in April 2007. Assistance from the P.R.C. has been especially focused on construction projects, including the main government building as well as performance venues for the South Pacific Games, which Samoa hosted in August/September 2007. In August 2008, the P.R.C.-funded parliamentary offices were opened with the Justice building set for completion by mid-2009. A $64 million concessionary loan was also signed in September 2008 between the two countries for the construction of a multi-storey office and conference building. Since 1967, the United States has supported a substantial Peace Corps program in Samoa. Over 1,900 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in Samoa over that time, with 40 Volunteers currently in-country. Peace Corps programs emphasize village-based development and capacity building. Other forms of U.S. assistance to Samoa are limited. Relations with the U.S. reached an all-time high in July 2008, when Secretary of State Rice visited Samoa and met with Prime Minister Tuilaepa as well as her counterparts from other Pacific Island nations. This was the second time a Secretary of State had visited in 20 years; George Schultz visited in 1987. The U.S. Embassy, staffed by a single officer, is the smallest Embassy in Samoa (although a few countries have honorary consuls) and one of the few one-officer U.S. Embassies in the world.

Samoa participated in a first round of negotiations with its Pacific Island neighbors for a regional trade agreement in August 2000. Samoa is a member of the United Nations and strong advocate of the Pacific Commission and Pacific Islands Forum.

Principal U.S. OfficialsAmbassador (accredited to both New Zealand and Samoa; resident in Wellington)--William P. McCormickChargé d'Affaires--Robin L. Yeager

The U.S. Embassy is located on the 5th Floor of the Accident Compensation Board (ACB, sometimes known as ACC) Building, Beach Road, Apia. Its mailing address is P.O. Box 3430, Apia. Phone: [685] 21631. Email: AmEmbApia@state.gov.

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